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- Peak tornado season in Harris County is March through May.
- Hurricanes and tropical storms often spawn tornadoes.
- In Harris County, tornadoes are most likely to occur between 3 in the afternoon and 9 in the evening, but can happen at any time.
- The average tornado moves across the ground at 30 miles per hour, but can range from “almost stopped” to 70 miles per hour.
- In Harris County, the average tornado moves from southwest to northeast, but can move in any direction, even reversing itself.
- Tornadoes are ranked on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. This scale estimates the windspeed inside the tornado by its ability to do damage. Tornadoes are classified from F0 (smallest) to F5 (largest). The tornadoes that form in Harris County are typically at the lower (smaller) end of the scale.
- Tornadoes that form over bodies of water such as the Gulf of Mexico or Galveston Bay are called waterspouts.
- When first formed, a tornado funnel may be hard to see until it picks up dirt and debris or a cloud forms within the funnel. Tornadoes can also be hidden behind a curtain of rainfall or hail.
- Tornadoes can strike quickly, with little or no warning. Most individual tornadoes last less than 10 minutes, but a series of tornadoes can be formed by the same thunderstorm cell.
What to do before a tornado
What to do during a tornado
What to do after a tornado
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